The Epic of Everest (1924) Q&A

Originally aired on Wednesday 22 September 2021.

A fascinating discussion on The Epic of Everest (1924) with Bryony Dixon (Curator, British Film Institute National Archive) and musician Stephen Horne, chaired by Alison Strauss (Hippodrome programmer / HippFest Director).

The third attempt to climb Everest culminated in the deaths of two of the finest climbers of their generation, George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, and sparked an ongoing debate over whether or not they did indeed reach the summit. This breathtaking documentary was filmed in brutally harsh conditions with a hand-cranked camera, and Captain John Noel captured beautiful images of considerable historic significance.

The film is also among the earliest filmed records of life in Tibet and features sequences at Phari Dzong (Pagri), Shekar Dzong (Xegar) and Rongbuk monastery. But what resonates so deeply is Noel’s ability to frame the vulnerability, isolation and courage of people persevering in one of the world’s harshest landscapes.

The restoration by the BFI National Archive transformed the quality of the surviving elements of the film and reintroduced the original tints and tones. Revealed by the restoration, few images in cinema are as epic – or moving – as the final shots of a blood red sunset over the Himalayas.

To learn more about the Hippodrome Silent Film Festival, visit: https://www.hippodromecinema.co.uk/si...